Forum
Programme has now achieved the how we take an overall approach to Members small independent retailers. This is
landmark of getting 1,000 offenders issues such as electronic fraud, and of the because a greater level of harm may
into treatment each week. have discussed these with a number Retail Loss be caused where theft is against a
There are many excellent schemes of law enforcement agencies Prevention small retailer. It also proposes that
across the country such as the including the Met Police. Funding Fashion organised gangs who use
Northampton Retail Crime Initiative proposals are currently being Forum at intimidation or use, or threaten,
(NRCI) one of the biggest retail crime discussed with law enforcement and their recent force when committing theft from a
partnerships in the county. The NRCI other bodies. meeting in shop should face custodial sentences
works closely with Safer Community Cardiff of between 36 weeks and four years.
Teams to help retailers with local The Sentencing Advisory Panel (SAP)
problems, for example working is separate from the Home Office but Over the last 18 months there has
closely with specialist drugs workers many believe its sole purpose is to been a sharp increase in shoplifting
to address the ‘revolving door cycle’ de-criminalise retail crime? What do linked to immigration reported by
of offending involving drug misuse you say to those critics? members of the Fashion Forum. The
and retail crime being helping drug Shoplifting is not being position is clear if they are illegal
users get quicker access to decriminalised. It remains a criminal residents, but what is the domicile
treatment.This is of course another offence and liable to all existing position regarding the legal status of
example where local services, disposals, including custody shoplifters from Eastern Europe for
business and the police can work The SAP is an independent body, example, who are here legally?
effectively together in developing a which was set up in 1999 to advise The majority of foreign nationals in
response to a local problem and find the Court of Appeal on sentencing the UK are here legally and
the solutions which best fits to the guidelines. It now performs a similar contribute positively to the UK
circumstance. function for the Sentencing economy and society. Managing
Guidelines Council, also an legal migration for the benefit of the
The Data Protection Act seems to independent body. Parliament is UK is a key objective of the
favour ‘armchair’ fraudsters who sell responsible for the sentencing Government’s immigration policy.
stolen goods on EBay and other framework but the Council decides We are aware that some areas
auction sites. The police have to how this should be applied by the have seen a slight increase in crimes
prosecute but are ill-equipped to criminal courts, to promote committed by European Economic
deal with cyber crime because of the consistency in sentencing. The Area nationals. But the message is
jurisdiction issues. Retailers can use process of producing guidelines very clear that anyone who is
existing technology to track involves two public consultations. engaged in criminal activity in the
offenders through EBay itself but the The first when the SAP produces a UK will be subject to prosecution like
DP Act does not allow them access to consultation paper, and the second anyone else.
the EBay data. What is the solution when the Council subsequently Currently EEA regulations allow us
here? The Fashion Forum recently produces a draft guideline. to deport serious offenders and we
met Charlie McMurdie the Cyber Comments are taken into account have deported a number of EEA
Crime co-ordinator who awaits your before a definitive guideline is nationals back to EU countries.
decision on a 1.3 million HO grant to introduced. The Council published a We will continue to consider
launch it. When will they hear if their draft guideline on theft and burglary whether to deport foreign nationals
bid has been successful? (in a non-dwelling) in March 2008 convicted of criminal offences –
The Government takes this form of and will issue a definitive guideline in usually where a court has
crime seriously, and is currently due course. The draft sentencing recommended deportation, or if a
considering how best to tackle such guideline on theft proposes higher custodial sentence of 24 months or
crimes. We are currently considering sentences where offenders target more has been served. RF
ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2008 • 27
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